Stone gatherer



Feb. 16, 1932. WARD 1,845,459

STONE GATHERER Filed Sept. 29, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. E. WARD STONEGATHERER Feb. 16;il932.

Filed Sept. 29, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jam-5 2- Ward- Patented Feb. 16,1932 UNITED STATES JAMES ELBERT WARD, or nooxrom), MICHIGAN STONE GAriiREn f Application filed September 29, 1930. serial No. 485,185.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a machine forsimultaneously gathering stones, removing dirt and trash therefrom, andloading them into a box from which they are dumped as desired. A furtherobject of the invention is the provision of a machine of the characteraforesaid which is adapted to be readily steered and adjusted, and whichembodies few parts.

lVhile the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention,it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needsand requirements the design may be varied and changes in the minordetails of construction may be resorted to within the scope of theinvention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof,reference is to be had to the following description and the drawingshereto attached, in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of a stone gatherer embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view partly in section, on

the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and having a portion of the box for receivingthe stones, broken away.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2,looking toward the front, as indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a detail horizontal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure3.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and designated in the several views of the drawings by likereference characters.

The main frame comprises longitudinal side bars 1, a rear cross bar 2,and a front transverse member 3. A rear axle 4 is mounted on the rearportion of the frame and receives wheels 5 which also act as drivers.Front wheels 6 are pivotally mounted for convenience of steering.

Standards 7 are mounted in the transverse member 3 for verticaladjustment and their lower ends pivotally support the wheels 6. Levers 8are pivoted intermediate their ends as at 80, to the transverse member 3and their outer ends are pivotally and slidably connected to the upperends of the standards 7 by pin and slot connections '81. The'inner endsof the levers 8 are pivotally and-slidably connected by pin and slotconnections 82'to a block 9 which is adjustable vertically. A verticallydisposed adjusting screw 10 is mounted in a block 11 carried bythe-transverse member 3 and its lower end is connected to the block 9 bymeans of a swivel joint. Rotation of the adjusting screw 10 elevates orlowers the block 9 and effects a corresponding adjustment of thestandards 7 through the levers 8. In this manner, the front end of themain frame is adapted tobe raised or lowered. 7 7 I Y The wheels 6 aremounted upon spindles 12 which are pivotally connected'to the lower endsof the standards 7 and from'which arms horses, as foundm-ost'advantageous.

Brackets 17 depend from the-forward portion of the 'main frame. Uprights18. rise from the rear portion of the'main frame." A

transverse shaft 19 isfmounted in the uprights 18 and receives sprocketwheels 20. A transverse shaft 21 is mounted in the brackets 17 andreceives sprocket wheels 22. An endless conveyor is mounted upon thesprocket wheels 20 and 22 and comprises chains 23 and lags 24. The lowerrun of the endless conveyor travels upwardly and rearwardly over a grid25 which inclines upwardly and rearwardly and which is connected at itslower forward end to the brackets 17 and at its upper rear end to themain frame. A box 26 at the rear end of the machine receives the stonesas they are discharged from the upper rear end of the grid 25. Drivechains 27 connect gear wheels 28 on the axle 4 with gear wheels 29 fastto the transverse shaft 19, whereby the endless conveyor is driven, asthe machine is drawn or otherwise propelled over the ground- Shipperlevers 30 are provided as convenient means for throwing the endlessconveyor into and out of gear by connecting the sprocket wheels 28 withthe wheels 5 or disengaging them therefrom.

The lower end of the grid trails upon the ground and the stones in thepath thereof are swept onto and over the grid by means of the endlessconveyor. Any dirt or trash drops through the spaces formed between thebars comprising the grid 25. The upper;

end of the grid 25 terminates above the box 26 so that the stonesdropping from the grid are received in the box 26. A trap door 31 in thebottom of the box 26 provides for convenient and ready discharge of thestones when required. The forward end of the stone gathering mechanism,including the grid 25 and endless conveyor, may be adjusted verticallythrough the instrumentality of the adjusting screw lO, levers 8,standards 7 and wheels 6, as will be readily appreciated.

When the machine is propelled over the ground and the sprocket wheels 28are in clutched engagement with the wheels 5, the endless conveyor isset in motion and sweeps the stones onto and over the grid 25, fromwhich they drop into the box 26 to be discharged therefrom as required.

What is claimed is:

The combination of a main frame, vertically adjustable standards at thefront end of the frame, an adjusting screw mounted vertically in thefront end of the frame, le vers fulcrumed between their ends on theframe and having their inner ends operatively connected with the lowerend of the screw and their outer ends o-peratively connected with theupper ends of the standards, front wheels pivotally connected to thelower ends of the standards, a bracket depending from the frame, atongue pivoted at its rear endto said bracket, and links formingconnecting means between the tongue and front wheel mountings.

. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature,

JAMES ELBERT WARD. [L.s.]

